Nigeria Advocates for Digital, People-Centered Health System at HIMSS Eurasia 2025

By Emmanuel Kwada

Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming its healthcare landscape through digital innovation and a people-centered approach.

Speaking at the 2025 HIMSS Eurasia HealthTech Conference in Antalya, Turkey, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, addressed a gathering of global health leaders, emphasizing the country’s strategic push toward a modernized health system.

The conference, held from November 27-29 at the Susesi Luxury Hotel in Belek, Antalya, and jointly organized by HIMSS and the Turkish Ministry of Health, provided a platform for international collaboration on health informatics and technology.

Dr. Salako’s keynote address highlighted Nigeria’s alignment with global trends, including the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, digital hospitals, and genomics into its healthcare framework.

Dr. Salako outlined the Health Sector Renewal Initiative, a cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on governance, service quality, value chain growth, and health security.

He stressed that Nigeria is leveraging these pillars to build a robust health ecosystem. “Health systems are changing fast, powered by cutting-edge technologies, and Nigeria is determined to keep pace,” he said, underscoring the nation’s ambition to enhance healthcare access and efficiency.

Key to this vision is the Nigeria Digital in Health Initiative (NDHI) and the National Digital Health Architecture. These programs aim to integrate data systems, eliminate fragmentation, and introduce electronic medical records (EMR) across medical facilities.

According to Dr. Salako, these initiatives will empower data-driven decision-making, improve service delivery, and contribute to better population health outcomes.

The minister highlighted fresh investments under the NDHI, which include establishing a national EMR system to support facilities with inadequate or substandard records.

This move is expected to enhance healthcare access, boost productivity, and position Nigeria as a potential hub for health tourism. He also cited the government’s commitment to upgrading infrastructure, retraining healthcare workers, and attracting both domestic and foreign direct investments in the sector.

Dr. Salako’s remarks align with the broader objectives of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched in December 2023, which seeks to strengthen policy, manpower, and infrastructural pillars of Nigeria’s health system. He emphasized President Tinubu’s vision of ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location, can access quality healthcare.

The HIMSS Eurasia Conference provided Nigeria with an opportunity to showcase its progress and forge partnerships with global stakeholders. The event, attended by health experts, policymakers, and technology innovators, featured discussions on advancing universal health coverage and leveraging technology for public health improvements.

Dr. Salako’s address was met with interest, reflecting Nigeria’s growing influence in the global health technology space.

As the conference continues through November 29, Nigeria’s delegation is expected to engage in further dialogues to solidify collaborations that will support its digital health ambitions. For now, the country stands at a pivotal moment, poised to transform its healthcare sector into a model of innovation and inclusivity.